ECB today announced long-serving umpire Mark Benson will step down from his role as a result of a back injury which required surgery.
Benson, who played one Test match and one ODI for England in 1986, became a first-class umpire in 1997, before officiating an international match for the first time in 2004. Since then he has umpired the World T20 final in 2007 and been a member of the Elite Panel of ICC Umpires.
ECB Chief Operating Officer Gordon Hollins, said: “Mark will be sadly missed by everyone involved in the game.
“He has made a huge contribution to the sport as both a player and an umpire and has been involved in some crucial matches during his tenure. We wish him well with his recovery and in the future.”
Mark will be replaced on the ECB Full Umpire’s List by Billy Taylor. Taylor’s first-class playing career as a fast bowler spanned from 1999 at Sussex to 2009 at Hampshire, where he recorded a career-best of 6-32. He was appointed to the Umpire Reserve list in 2011.
ECB Full List 2016: Rob Bailey, Neil Bainton, Paul Baldwin, Michael Burns, Nick Cook, Nigel Cowley, Jeff Evans, Russell Evans, Steve Gale, Steve Garratt, Michael Gough, Ian Gould, Peter Hartley, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nigel Llong, Graham Lloyd, Jeremy Lloyds, Neil Mallender, David Millns, Steve O’Shaughnessy, Tim Robinson, Martin Saggers, Billy Taylor, Alex Wharf.
Source: ECB